'Club Royale'- first computerised night club

For the first time in Sri Lanka, an exclusive computerised night club,
'Club Royale' has been launched. The night club, located at the Berjaya
Mount Royale Hotel, Mount Lavinia caters to the need for an informal, relaxed
night club on an exotic location by the Beach, where night birds can hang
around and enjoy the high quality music.

Club Royale is the product of the recently formed, Young Asian's Media
Club, which is committed towards the development and promotion of music,
dance and entertainment in Sri Lanka. The Young Asian's Media Club is a
unique body that is geared to identify and support the professional development
of entertainers and artistes such as DJs, singers, musicians, dancers,
models and dress designers. The Young Asian's Media Club is assisted by
MTV, USA.

'The Club which has just got underway has as its pioneering project,
launched, Club Royale - a distinctive venue for nightlife. While filling
the void for an informal night club in the outskirts of Colombo, Club Royale,
will serve as a base for the activities of the Young Asian's Media Club.

An exciting line up of events, including talent search competitions
have been planned for the festive season and throughout the millennium.
Artists who are brought to the spotlight by the Young Asians Media Club
will be supported and promoted in their career development at an international
level by MTV USA. Club Royale which opens on November 6, features a fully
computerised modern music system. The usual DJ consoles are conspicuous
by their absence.

The latest lighting system is also installed at Club Royale.

Music for a wide variety of tastes is available. Music videos and giant
monitors are to be introduced shortly together with video jockey.

Club. Royale is also geared to cater to special functions ranging from
product launches, fashion show, corporate get-to-gethers and private parties.
Young Asian's media Club will assist those organizing special parties and
functions to arrange spectacular events to suit their needs. A competitive
pricing policy to suit the average purse is adopted, while maintaining
the highest quality in entertainment.

For its first phase of operation, Club Royale will swing into action
on Saturday nights only. So check in the mood at Club Royale for a refreshing
change in night life and entertainment.

His face has been touched up

By Kumaradasa Wagista

The untimely and unexpected death of film, teledrama actor cum singer
music director Granville Rodrigo several months back has created a vacuum
hard to be filled. He succumbed to injuries caused in a road accident while
going with a few other artistes to attend a Daham Pasal function at Piliyandala.
Samjaya Leelaratna, K. D. Siripala, and K. P. Piyakaru were the other artistes
who travelled
in the vehicle who were also injured.

Film and teledrama actor Sanjaya Leelaratna was another who was seriously
wounded. He also received head and face injuries and was treated at Kalubowila
Hospital. "I made an effort not to sleep as I had received injuries
that led to internal bleeding. Sleeping is detrimental when one is suffering
from internal bleeding" he added.

"After the mishap I walked for a long distance and fortunately
got into a jeep that was passing and got myself admitted to Kalubowila
Hospital " Sanjaya Leelaratna said.

Sanjaya acts in 'Kinihiriye Donkaraya' which is now on Swarnavahini.
He has earlier appeared in many teledramas and films.

Although his face was operated thrice at Colombo National Hospital he
was not satisfied. Sanjaya took to acting as a hobby first and fortunately
the demand for him as an actor gradually increased. As a result he signed
more and more films and teledrama acting contracts. His face was gradually
getting accustomed to film and teledrama viewers when this unfortunate
incident occurred.

Face is of utmost value to any film actor or actress. If the face goes
out of shape one cannot be in the acting profession, like a discarded coin
going out of circulation. We often hear of Asian film stars going to the
US for plastic surgery because the profession needs such treatment., he
said. Although Sanjaya
too thought of getting plastic surgery treatment, he was helpless due to
lack of funds.

"Presidential Media Advisor Sanath Gunatileka was the only man
who saw the difference in my face in the film perspective after I recovered.
As a film actor Mr Gunatileka advised me to get my face attended by a plastic
surgeon in India" Sanjaya reninisced.

Without any film assignments because of the accident Sanjaya could not
dream of going to India for a facial make-up. He was fully aware that even
collecting money from close associates was an impossible task.

Sanjaya was surprised when one fine day Sanath Gunatileka suddenly informed
Sanjaya to get ready with the necessary papers to visit Apollo Hospital
in Chennai for the operation.

" Even without my knowledge Mr Gunatileka had worked out to get
me Rs 75,000/- from the Presidential Fund, and made arrangements with a
surgeon at the hospital to get my face done,. for which I am grateful to
him and the President" he said.

He was also thankful to Professor Balakrishna of Apollo Hospital who
performed the operation and Indian film producer Prem Kallart.

Sanjaya was in Chennai for two weeks and returned home recently.

"Now I am back with my real face ready to face camera as original
Sanjaya Leelaratna" he concluded.

Nishan: 'Young Restaurateur'

Small is mighty is no small wonder, for that's what Nishan Silva is!
When he joined Hilton Colombo as a Management Trainee a few years ago,
here was one ambitious young lad with an abundance of enthusiasm waiting
to impart his dedication and commitment from the word "go!"

Through his strenuous period of training, as is customary with Hilton
Management Trainee programmes, he was put through every test in the various
areas, resulting with Nishan wanting to join the Food & Beverage Department.

Nishan Silva, the Manager of the Emperor's Wok of Colombo Hilton has
been named 'Young Restaurateur of the world by 'International Hotel and
Restaurant Association (IH &RA).

This 28 year old Sri Lankan studied at the International Hotel Management
Institute in Lucerne, Switzerland, with training periods at the Basele
Hilton and the Hotel Royal, Lucerne. With a marketing qualification from
the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing under his belt, he joined the Hilton
Colombo in 1994 as a Management Trainee.

After the intensive 18 month management programme and positions in several
of the hotel's food outlets, he was chosen to head the team in charge of
the opening of the hotel's prestigious Emperor's Wok restaurant. This being
the eighth specialty restaurant in the hotel, he was given the opportunity
of following special training courses at the Hilton Beijing and in Hong
Kong to learn the operation of a fine dining Chinese restaurant.

Therefore, it is no wonder that Nishan had the honour of being named
one of the two selected "Young Restaurateurs of the World" 1999
by the International Hotel & Restaurant Association under the present
leadership of Dr. Osmane Aidi - President, IH &RA. The other recepient
was Claire Menik of Hotel Mayfair, in Wisonsin, Canada.

During the Annual Congress held in Durban, South Africa on October 18,
1999 he received this prestigious Award.

This designation is an extension of the Young Hoteliers of the World
Award, created with the IH & RA's official journal HOTELS magazine
in 1992 to recognise the outstanding achievements among hospitality professionals
under the age of 30.

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH &RA) is
a global network representing over 750,000 hospitality operators, associations
and suppliers in more than 150 countries. Its mission is to protect, promote
and inform the hospitality industry, which it estimates to comprise over
300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants world-wide, employs 60 million
people and contribute US $950 billion to the global economy.